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Planning a trip to France? Join Us in France is the podcast for you! On this podcast we have conversations about our trips to France, chat with tour guides, share tips on French culture, the basics of French history, explain how to be savvy traveler in France and share our love of French food, wine and destinations in France. You won't want to miss out on all these great conversations about one of the most beautiful countries on earth! Subscribe now so you don't miss an episode. And if you're planning your own trip soon - start listening now so you're ready to connect to France on a deeper level. Bon voyage!
Julie Lynch, an Australian costume designer with 40 years of experience, transitioned to painting and experienced her first individual overseas art retreat in Noyers, a medieval village in Burgundy. She describes the retreat as a relaxed experience focused on absorbing the surroundings rather than achieving specific artistic outcomes.
During her art retreat in Noyers, Julie Lynch, an Australian artist, created abstract Burgundy landscapes using a gel plate. This was a departure from her usual work focusing on Australian flora and birds, and she found the experience of painting the French countryside inspiring.
The art retreat in Noyers, Burgundy, balanced morning artistic activities with afternoon excursions. Julie Lynch and her friends visited towns like Avallon, Vézelay, and the Château d'Ancy-le-Franc, enriching their experience of the region.
During their retreat, Julie Lynch and her friends visited Avallon, discovering a historic costume museum run by elderly women, and Vézelay, home to the Abbaye Sainte-Marie-Madeleine. These excursions offered a glimpse into the region's history and culture.
The group visited the Château d'Ancy-le-Franc, a grand château from the 16th century, noted for its symmetrical architecture and painted interiors. A surprising feature was the presence of early en-suite bathrooms dating back to the 1700s, integrated with the original design.
Julie Lynch describes Noyers as a fairytale village, small enough to connect with locals. The village, with a population of under 600, features individual shops and a charming atmosphere, including a medieval ring road and unique garden plots across the river.
The group also visited Chablis, a town famous for its wine. They experienced a lively Sunday market filled with produce and goods, and found the town to be relaxed with lovely shops and restaurants, suggesting it as a potential place to stay.
Annie Sargent, host of 'Join Us in France,' has launched a new YouTube channel, 'Join Us in France Video.' The channel will feature short, simple videos in spoken French for learners and visually explanatory videos in English about France.
The annual Bastille Day fireworks display at the Eiffel Tower in Paris has been rescheduled to July 13th, one day earlier than the traditional July 14th date. This change by the City of Paris is to allow for solemn remembrance of the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Nice terrorist attack. The event will feature 1,600 drones, an increase from last year, with themed sequences celebrating the French Navy and the sister city relationship between Paris and Rome.
Eugène Delacroix, a pivotal figure in 19th-century art, faced intense criticism throughout his career for his unconventional style and subject matter. Despite being labeled a Romantic painter, Delacroix resisted categorization, striving to express personal emotions and artistic vision. His early works, like 'La Barque de Dante,' were met with harsh reviews, forcing him to defend his artistic choices.
Following significant critical backlash for his early works, Eugène Delacroix created 'Liberty Leading the People' in 1831, inspired by the July Revolution. This painting depicted a realistic and emotionally resonant scene, earning immediate acclaim and being purchased by Louis-Philippe. However, due to its revolutionary imagery, the painting was later removed from public display for fear of inciting unrest.
In 1832, Eugène Delacroix embarked on a seven-month journey to Morocco and Algeria, an experience that profoundly influenced his art and inspired the Orientalist movement. He documented the exotic landscapes, people, customs, and decorative elements, filling notebooks with sketches and watercolors. This trip led to numerous paintings, including 'Femmes d'Alger Dans Leur Appartement,' and established a lasting theme in his work.
In the final decade of his life, Eugène Delacroix, now a renowned artist, focused on decorative art and accepted commissions for several churches, despite not being a religious man. His significant late works can be seen in the Assemblée Nationale, Bibliothèque Nationale, the Louvre's Galerie d'Apollon, and the churches of Saint-Sulpice and Saint-Paul. He also acquired a house near Saint-Sulpice to facilitate his work on large murals.
Larry Rosenblum describes his experience swimming in the Seine River in Paris during the summer months, highlighting specific locations like Bercy and the provided amenities. He notes the requirement of wearing a flotation device and shares his personal experience with the water temperature.
Larry Rosenblum details his use of augmented reality (AR) glasses at the Comédie-Française to receive English translations of plays, finding the technology to be highly effective. He saw 'Les Fourberies de Scapin' and found the AR experience to be about 98% successful.
Larry Rosenblum shares his experiences visiting the French Senate and the Richelieu site of the National Library during European Heritage Days. He describes the opulent conference hall and Senate chamber at the Palais du Luxembourg and the distinct atmospheres of the Oval Room and Labrouste Room libraries.
Larry Rosenblum, a lifelong stamp collector and writer for a national publication, discusses his visit to the revamped Paris Postal Museum. He highlights the museum's exhibits on postally related art and the historical significance of mail transmission, noting its value for both collectors and non-collectors.
Larry Rosenblum recounts his experience with Viality Tour's virtual reality (VR) offering that traces the history of the Louvre. He describes wearing VR glasses that transport users to different historical periods within the Louvre's grounds, from its origins as a fort in 1180 to its development as a palace and museum.
Larry Rosenblum shares his experience on a solo nighttime Segway tour in Paris, starting near the Eiffel Tower and concluding at the Louvre courtyard. He describes navigating bike lanes, dealing with traffic, and finding the ride along the illuminated Seine riverbanks to be the most delightful part of the tour.
Larry Rosenblum highly recommends Annie Sargent's VoiceMap tours in Paris, having used them for Le Marais, Saint Germain de Pres, the Latin Quarter, and around the Eiffel Tower. He highlights specific discoveries, such as an ancient city wall in the Latin Quarter and the historical Cour du Commerce Saint-André.
Larry Rosenblum offers advice for planning an extended stay in Paris, emphasizing early research, booking accommodations and flights, and using a spreadsheet for itinerary organization. He also recommends the Navigo Easy card for metro travel and advocates for leaving passports at the hotel for safety.
Larry Rosenblum describes his favorite museum, the Musée des Arts Forains, located in Bercy. He explains that it houses relics from fairs, including rides and animated figures, and highlights a unique, people-powered bicycle carousel that he found to be fast and fun.
This episode delves into the dramatic life of Alexandre Dumas Père, author of "The Three Musketeers" and "The Count of Monte Cristo." Despite his immense literary success, Dumas was a controversial figure due to his persona and his unconventional background, stemming from his grandmother being a slave and his father being the first non-white general in the French army.
Alexandre Dumas Père's father, the son of a marquis and a slave, rose to become the first non-white general in the French army. His career was cut short when he disobeyed Napoleon, leading to his capture, torture, and subsequent loss of his pension, a fate believed to have inspired Dumas' "The Count of Monte Cristo."
Despite his father's military achievements, Alexandre Dumas Père faced racism in his youth due to his mixed heritage. With a formal education ending at 13, he developed a passion for fables and historical stories, inspired by works like Walter Scott's "Ivanhoe," which fueled his dream of becoming a writer.
Alexandre Dumas first found fame not through novels, but through his prolific theater career, writing over 100 plays. His breakthrough came with the historical play "Henry III and His Court" in 1825. He was known for living life to the fullest, generously spending his earnings and fathering numerous children, even as he continued to produce a remarkable volume of work.
In 1844, at the age of 42, Alexandre Dumas published "The Three Musketeers," marking a massive success that was immediately followed by other iconic novels like "Twenty Years Later," "La Reine Margot," and "The Count of Monte Cristo." He achieved this prolific output often with the help of collaborator Alfred Maquet, who provided structural outlines for Dumas to flesh out.
Despite his immense success, Dumas frequently faced financial difficulties, leading to bankruptcy and debts, often due to his extravagant spending. In 1860, he personally funded Giuseppe Garibaldi's unification movement in Italy, even traveling there to support the cause and later becoming the head of museums and archaeological sites in Naples, including Pompeii.
France is experiencing a severe heatwave in June 2026, drawing comparisons to the deadly 2003 event. This has intensified the debate around air conditioning, with a discussion on its environmental impact given France's reliance on nuclear power. Practical advice for visitors includes verifying AC in accommodations and utilizing naturally cool spaces like churches and museums.